Most of the time photographing a newborn can be challenging and somewhat unpredictable. In this article I've listed some useful Baby Photography Tips For Infants And Newborns that can make your sessions go as smoothly as possible.
Tips #1 Learning The Location
If this is a location shoot, you will probably want to visit the home first, so you can check out the windows and be sure that you will have adequate light. If this is not possible, ask the parents what the lighting is like for the particular time of day that your sitting is scheduled.
Tips #2 Discuss The Wardrobe
Discuss with the parents prior to the sitting how they feel about the baby's wardrobe. You should consider photographing their wrinkly, soft-skinned bodies, so try to encourage the parents to forego the clothing.
They are only an infant for such a short period of time and we want to capture every little part of them! Make sure to remind parents to remove clothes or anything that may leave marks on the baby's delicate skin approximately 1 hour prior to the sitting. This really helps in post-editing so you won't be spending all of your time getting rid of sock marks, etc.
Tips #3 Room Temperature
Before the sitting, make sure that the room or location is very warm. Newborns can be very uncooperative when they are cold. I sometimes use a heating pad underneath the backdrop or material that the baby is laying on for extra warmth.
Tips #4 Be Prepared
Be sure to have any props, baby posers, backdrops, etc. ready prior to the sitting. Keep hand sanitizer, clean blankets, paper towels, disinfectant cleaner, baby wipes and tissues handy. Trust me, you will need these things!
Tips #5 Natural Posing
Pose infants in their natural position. It looks awkward and unnatural to see them sitting upright. A beanbag poser is an easy way to pose a baby because it naturally molds around the baby's body. Not to mention that it is very safe and comfortable for the infant.
Tips #6 Choose The Right Height And Angles
Get down to their level. When you shoot down low at the baby's level, you are bringing the viewer into the baby's world vs. standing over the baby and looking down on it. Very often, I lay on the floor on my stomach for some great captures.
Although, most of my time is spent at the baby's level, it is a good idea to consider other angles. You can also try shooting from a bird's eye view or from down below the baby's level to show other interesting perspectives.
Photographing newborns and infants requires a lot of patience. I always allow extra time for these sessions because they can be so unpredictable. Use these tips in your photography sessions and you will be on your way to creating beautiful baby portraits.
